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Sports

Pettit Survives First Day of Wrestling State Championships

Ocean City senior wins opener, drops pre-quarterfinals match

Dan Pettit couldn't pull off two surprises on Friday night, but one was enough to survive.

The Ocean City High School senior is still alive to place at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Wrestling State Championships at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall.

Pettit registered a pin in his 145-pound opening round match, but dropped his pre-quarterfinals match.

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The Red Raiders senior will be back in action for the wrestlebacks, which start at 10 a.m. Saturday morning.  Pettit can still finish as high as third in the state, but it will take five straight wins.

"It feels good going into tomorrow knowing I just need two more wins to place, to be in the top-8," said Pettit, who didn't even make it out of the first night at districts last year." "That feels good."

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"When you make it here that has to be your goal to get up on the podium," Ocean City coach Dave Castellini said. "He has to win two more matches tomorrow to make it there.'

In the pre-quarterfinals match Pettit took on Willingboro's James Green, who won the 140-pound state title last year.

The Willingboro senior, who entered the match undefeated at 25-0, made quick work of Pettit, winning a 23-8 technical fall in 4 minutes, 22 seconds.

Pettit is getting accustomed to wrestling elite wrestlers. The Red Raiders lost his Region 8 final to Williamstown's C.J. Cobb, who is one of the favorites to contend for a state title.

"Green is a lot stronger and quicker, but Cobb is way more technical," Pettit said. "But that kid is very good."

In the preliminary round, Pettitt seemed to be taken back by how quickly Bergen Catholic sophomore James Dawson attacked.

Dawson registered a takedown 11 seconds into the match, and was up 4-1 when Pettit turned the tables. The Ocean City senior reversed Dawson and stuck him at the 32-second mark to advance, and assure himself a spot on Saturday's card.

"He shot in right away and got a quick two. Later he shot again, and I stepped over and got him to his back. That's how I got him."

"It's something he has in his arsenal," Castellini said. It's nice to come here where people don't know what you're working with and you can surprise someone."

Pettit, who takes on Luke Bush of Shore Regional in the first round of wrestlebacks, says he will come in to Saturday's action with the same attitude he had Friday night.

"After regions my dad said, 'dont be nervous. Every thing from here is icing on the cake,'" Pettit said. "I came in here not nervous at all. We will see what happens."

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